Monday, April 20, 2009

Princess for day

A few weeks back I was asked by a friend to take some photographs for her family. So I went to Lynn where I witnessed my first christening. The service was modest, held in the basement of an average urban church. However, the musty surroundings did not due justice to the the glitzy stilettos of the mothers or the sharp suits that decorated the dads. The sermon was entirely in Spanish since the majority of the people there were from Latin American countries. The whole thing was really interesting to me (for the first of the three hour service anyway) Everything seemed so foreign despite only being 40 minutes from my hometown. When the formal part finally finished I was invited back to the home of the family where I was thrown into the middle of the small kitchen -packed with sassy Dominican woman. They each gave me a kiss and said hello without asking any questions as to who the random red headed girl was. No questions. Just like every other woman in that room I was handed a tray of raw enpanadillas. I picked apart each sticky, crescent, shaped pocket and placed it into the oil that was sizzling on the rickety stove top. Salsa, merrenge and bachata music danced through the walls of the few rooms and everyone seemed to be family. One of the little boys even asked me which cousin I was! The truth was, it didn't matter who was related by blood. If you acted like family-you were treated like family. For little Isabella not only was this her christening celebration but also her birthday. The party, also held in a small basement, was not lacking charm. Dora the Explorer was very present and the kids were all full of energy and smiles. The day was certainly not extravagant but I have to say I felt more life in that small basement in Lynn than I have in a while. Isabella's family if full of love and passion, they enjoy each moment and live in the present; and to me, there are no better qualities to have in this life.

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